Coos and Ahs

I can't believe Roger will be a month old on Friday (and I will be 28 on Sunday... yikes). Despite the "learning curve" period, the month just flew by. I feel like I'm really starting to get this mom thing down; I feel like an old pro at diaper changing and I can get my car loaded - infant, diaper bag, purse, and dog - in no time at all. It's funny how things that previously grossed me out or that I never would've pictured myself doing are completely second nature now (i.e. sticking my finger in a diaper to check for wetness).

I've started to become more adept at decoding cries. I definitely have the "I pooped myself, change me please" and the "I'm hungry, feed me" cries down and I think I'm started to pick up the "I want attention," the "leave me alone," the "where's my binky," and the "I need a nap" cries. In addition to crying, Roger is starting to find his voice. I LOVE listening to him "talk" (though admittedly at first it was tough to distinguish his talking with the sounds that presaged a fit). It's been fun watching him grow, even through the minor changes the first month brings. His eyes are open a lot more now and he'll focus on an object. He's always looking around, taking everything in, talking it out. He's just absolutely amazing! I nearly peed myself the other day when he grabbed his feet - I can't wait till we start reaching major milestones!

He's not as fussy as he was in the first couple weeks, but I'm not sure if that's due to HIM being more content or the fact that I've gotten better at predicting what it is he wants. Maybe it's a little of both. He's sleeping well at night, happy and content in his cradle (and yes, still next to our bed... we haven't revisited the crib battle yet) - I usually have to wake him up for his feedings in the wee hours of the morning, but he's typically the one waking me up to feed him around 6 or 7 in the morning. He's gotten a lot better at taking a bottle. The first time my husband gave him a bottle (because he absolutely positively will NOT take one from me. I am, after all, the "Boob Lady") he kept glancing up at Matt with this look of confusion, as if to say, Okay, it's definitely Mom's milk, but you're definitely not Mom... and he cried inconsolably for a while after that first bottle. Now that he's gotten the hang of it, it's a nice reprieve for me as Matt will usually give Roger a bottle of breast milk before he leaves for work which allows me a bit more straight sleep and is totally worth it despite how sore and engorged I am after missed feeding (that's what the pump is for!).

Part of me is excited to reach the point in Roger's life where he's more interactive with me - I won't lie, there are times when having an infant this young is downright boring - but the other part of me is astonished at how fast it's going by and I wish I could slow it down just a bit to take in all the little moments. Motherhood is shaping up to be a beautiful thing; already life before the little man seems a vague and distant memory. How strange it's been to so instantly and unconditionally love something :)